Asheville couple claim $1 million Powerball prize

Published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 10:10 p.m.

RALEIGH — An Asheville couple who won $1 million in the May 11 Powerball drawing has claimed their prize money.

Ron and Regina Phelps, both nurses, presented the winning ticket at lottery headquarters on Tuesday. It matched all five white balls drawn, but not the red Powerball, beating odds of 1 in 5.1 million.

Regina Phelps bought the ticket at Ingles on New Leicester Highway in Asheville on the day of the drawing. The next morning, she saw her Powerball ticket clipped to the calendar on the refrigerator door.

"I thought, ‘Oh, I should check that ticket,'" she said. "I saw the numbers matching: 6, 13, 19, 23, 43. And I said ‘Oh my God.' That's when I tried to call Ron."

She got his voicemail. Although Regina Phelps knew she had won $1 million, her message to him was phrased delicately.

"I think something good has happened," she said.

In the interest of making that good thing last, the couple met with a financial planner last week. After state and federal taxes were withheld, they received a check for $680,000.

The couple has more than 60 combined years of experience in the medical field. After all that time providing care, Regina Phelps said winning the lottery gives them options.

"It means we can actually think about retirement in a more positive way," she said. The couple added that they would enjoy their good fortune with their two adult children and grandchild.

The Phelps family's claim represents the fourth and final $1 million prize won during the record Powerball jackpot run that ended on Saturday. The other $1 million winners are from Charlotte, Jacksonville and Winston-Salem.

<p>RALEIGH — An Asheville couple who won $1 million in the May 11 Powerball drawing has claimed their prize money. </p><p>Ron and Regina Phelps, both nurses, presented the winning ticket at lottery headquarters on Tuesday. It matched all five white balls drawn, but not the red Powerball, beating odds of 1 in 5.1 million.</p><p>Regina Phelps bought the ticket at Ingles on New Leicester Highway in Asheville on the day of the drawing. The next morning, she saw her Powerball ticket clipped to the calendar on the refrigerator door. </p><p>"I thought, 'Oh, I should check that ticket,'" she said. "I saw the numbers matching: 6, 13, 19, 23, 43. And I said 'Oh my God.' That's when I tried to call Ron." </p><p>She got his voicemail. Although Regina Phelps knew she had won $1 million, her message to him was phrased delicately.</p><p>"I think something good has happened," she said. </p><p>In the interest of making that good thing last, the couple met with a financial planner last week. After state and federal taxes were withheld, they received a check for $680,000.</p><p>The couple has more than 60 combined years of experience in the medical field. After all that time providing care, Regina Phelps said winning the lottery gives them options.</p><p>"It means we can actually think about retirement in a more positive way," she said. The couple added that they would enjoy their good fortune with their two adult children and grandchild.</p><p>The Phelps family's claim represents the fourth and final $1 million prize won during the record Powerball jackpot run that ended on Saturday. The other $1 million winners are from Charlotte, Jacksonville and Winston-Salem.</p>